The 5-foot diameter sculpted globes were designed by artists from around the globe to show simple solutions people can do to help combat global warming, and promote sustainability and ecology.

Some of the themes include recycling, energy conservation, water conservation, installing energy efficient light bulbs, or improving automobile gas mileage, increasing.

Cool Globes: Hot Ideas for a Cooler Planet 
U.S. Botanic Garden     
100 Maryland Avenue, SW – across from the U.S. Capitol
Washington, DC

Dates and Hours – The Conservatory is open daily, 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., the garden until 7:00 p.m.  Through October 12, 2008.

Admission – FREE. Admission to the conservatory, garden and grounds  is free.

Nearest Metro Subway Station – Federal Center SW – Orange or Blue lines

Parking – Weekday street parking is tough, but is usually easier on weekends, when the government employees aren’t on the Hill. In Capitol Hill residential areas, watch for limited two-hour parking limits.

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Post from: The DC Traveler

Earth Day

This year’s theme for action against global warming is Call for Climate. The eight major U.S. events, along with smaller events around the country are attempting to generate one million phone calls to Congress to urge action on global warming.

The National Mall in Washington, DC will hold the flagship U.S. event and one of the largest Earth Day gatherings in history.  Dozens of smaller events are planned in the area and across the country, from area clean-ups to tree plantings.

The daylong event will feature speeches by environmental leaders, government officials and celebrities, musical performances and dozens of environmentally-related exhibits.

Earth Day was first started in 1970, when Wisconsin U.S. Senator, Gaylord Nelson, after witnessing an oil spill off the coast of Santa Barbara California, returned to Washington, DC to sponsor a bill to mark April 22nd as national Earth Day to focus attention on the environment.

Earth Day
The National Mall, south of the Washington Monument Between Constitution and Independence Ave. and 9th & 12th St.
Washington, DC (map it)

Dates and Times – Sunday, April 20, 2008 – Noon – 6:30 p.m.

Admission – FREE

Nearest Metro Subway Station – Smithsonian, or Federal Triangle – Blue and Orange lines, or Archives/Navy Memorial/Penn Quarter – Green and Yellow lines, then then a 3-5 block walk, or use the DC Circulator.

Parking – Metered street parking is available, but with any major event on the Mall, taking Metro or biking into DC is recommended.

Since it is Earth Day, it’s probably best to leave your carbon producing car in the garage and take Metro, ride a bike or walk to the event.

Images – Our Earth – NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Image by Reto Stöckli (land surface, shallow water, clouds). Enhancements by Robert Simmon (ocean color, compositing, 3D globes, animation). Data and technical support: MODIS Land Group; MODIS Science Data Support Team; MODIS Atmosphere Group; MODIS Ocean Group Additional data: USGS EROS Data Center (topography); USGS Terrestrial Remote Sensing Flagstaff Field Center (Antarctica); Defense Meteorological Satellite Program (city lights). Pollution – Flickr – Miguel A. Lopes “Migufu”.
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Post from: The DC Traveler